The one called George was a bit shy. He was new here, arriving just moments before. He wasn’t sure how to act around all the others. George took a deep breath, and began his story.

“Many years ago I was very rough and large. Everyone called me a chip off the old block. I guess they were right. One day I decided to be adventurous and take a dive into the water far below.”

Emma gasped and said, “Oh, I love the water. It’s so smooth and silky.”

“You’ll have to forgive Emma,” said Daniel. “She’s the talker around here. But go on, we want to hear more.”

“The dive was stupendous. I hit the water with a perfect ten, splashing drops up hundreds of feet. Everyone waved at me, telling me to have fun and be watchful. I didn’t understand at first what they meant.” George looked sadly at the others.

“What happened next?”

“I lay in the water for what seemed like a long time. I watched the fish swim by. There were so many pretty ones, and sometimes one would even talk to me. Then suddenly one day a torrent of water rushed over me, and I was picked up and carried far away. It was then that I understood that I would never see my family again. I was saddened, but I was having so much fun riding that huge wave that I didn’t really think about my family for long.”

Suddenly everyone got very quiet. The child had entered the bedroom and speaking was not allowed.

“Good night, my dear,” said the kind lady’s voice.

“Good night, mommy,” said the small voice in the bed. “I love you. Thanks for praying with me tonight.”

“Well, the waves ceased and I found myself on the shore. It was very hot and I laid there for days. Finally, large hands picked me up and said that I would be a great addition for the road, so I became a stepping stone.”

“I had a relative who was a stepping stone,” Emma said. “Oh, George, tell us more.”

“Many people walked on that road, but I remember one day in particular. It was Jesus Himself who walked on me. His feet touched me, and He was carrying a large cross. Then suddenly I was yanked out of the road and tossed down a hill. They said I was unclean because I had His blood on me. I rolled to a stop and eventually I was thrown into the ocean. That was a few thousand years ago. Since then I’ve been whittled away by the water. I am surprised that I have decreased in size each time, yet I’ve been refined. I’ve been on so many shores and have seen so many things. I miss my family.”

George began to cry softly. Emma moved closer and said, “It’s okay, we’ve all had bad experiences. But now you have a new home.”

Everyone rallied around George and said, “We love you and this is a good home. None of us has ever been sent away.”

As the night hours continued, soft talk was heard. As morning approached, all was quiet and the little boy woke up and ran to the window. He gasped out loud and called to his mother.

As she ran into the room, the little boy asked, “Mom, did you put my rocks in a semicircle around my new one? I know I had them in a perfectly straight line when I went to bed.”

His mother replied, “No, son, I didn’t do it. But it’s odd, because this happens every time you get a new stone. It’s almost as if they are all talking together.”